Hot pot lifter



1941-. J. .RUTKOWSKI I 2 2 HOT POT LIFTER Filed March l5, 1940 INVENTOR. Jaw/v fiur aws/r/ ATTORNEY. 4

Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STA HOT POT LIFTER .lolm Rutkowski, Cleveland, Ohio Application March 15,

Claims.

This invention relates to culinary appliances and particularly to instruments used for lifting or carrying hot pots, pans or dishes.

The primary object of the invention is to 5 provide a container lifting device which is simple and easy to operate and economical to manufacture, assemble and package.

Another object of the invention is to construct a device of the character mentioned which is made of readily obtainable standard materials.

A further object is to provide a hot pot holder for domestic use of relatively few parts and which will not get out of order or be difficult to keep clean and sanitary.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a device with reciprocating jaw members that hold a cover or lid on a handled pot in a manner which prevents it from dropping off while the pot is being tilted for the purpose of draining it.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following description and claims together with the accompanying drawing in which like parts are designated by like reference characters and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device showing how the reciprocating jaws engage the brim of a pot or pan;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in the Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a rear end view of the device shown in the Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a 35 portion of the movable jaw member taken along the lines 4-4 of the Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the fixed jaw member taken along the lines 55 of the Figure 1.

The device constituting this invention consists broadly of three main elements. There is first, the frame or support member I8; second, the rear or fixed jaw member 20; and third, the forward or movable jaw member 30. Each of these members will be described hereinafter in greater detail.

The frame member It consists of a shank portion I I made of a square rod, a screw or threaded element I2 at the rear end of the shank II for engagement with the fixed jaw member 2!! and a handle element I3. The screw I2 may either be turned directly on the square rod or it may be made separate and attached thereto by any of the many well known means. At any rate, the screw I2 should be in rigid engagement with 1940, Serial No. 324,101

the shank portion II. The handle I3 may be bent as illustrated to form a convenient holding means or any other type of conventional handle may be easily and firmly attached to the square shank portion II.

The fixed jaw member consists partially of a piece of sheet metal 2| folded twice to form an inverted laterally extending channel. The inner fold 2Ia has a central square hole through which the shank II extends. The outer fold 2Ib has a central round hole through which the screw l2 extends. The inner side of the outer fold 2Ib abuts the square end of the shank II and the metal piece 2| is firmly held in place on the support by the finished nut or cap 22.

In addition, the jaw member 20 has a length of metal rod 23 bent somewhat U-shaped and which is attached to the sheet metal piece 2|. This length of metal 23 which actually forms one part of a Vise is bent so that its extreme ends or tips 24 are substantially horizontal, project inward and are formed and spaced to evenly engage the brim of a pan or pot 9. Theside portions 25 of the U-shaped rod 23 are firmly attached to the side edges of the rear fold 2Ib and extend upward, through and over the top fold 2Ic. The top horizontal portion 26 is spaced about an inch from the top fold 2Ic or enough to permit that central horizontal portion of the rod to be used as an auxiliary grip or handle for lifting very heavy pots or pans. The two portions 2| and 23 may be very easily and satisfactorily attached together by simple welding processes.

The movable jaw member 30 is very similar to the stationary or fixed jaw member 24!. It consists of a sheet of metal 3I bent or folded to form an inverted channel. The inner andouter folds 3Ia and 3Ib, respectively, extend laterally across the shank I I and have therein two aligned square holes through which the square shank I I may smoothly slide.

The substantially U-shapedrod 33 on the movable jaw member 30 has the same general shape as the U-shaped rod 23 on the fixed jaw member 20. Its ends or tips 34 are bent or fashioned to engage in a similar manner the brim of the pot or pan 9. The parallel side portions 35 of the U-shaped rod 33 are welded or otherwise rigidly fastened to the rear fold 3i b of the movable metal sheet. The top portion of the bent rod 33, however, does not extend through or over the top fold 310 but instead extends under it or in the inverted channel formed by the sheet metal piece 3|.

In order to cause the movable jaw member 30 to be held in a fixed position on the shank II, and in order to permit it to slide thereon so as to accommodate pots and pans of various sizes, there is provided a spring clip or pincher-like device which attaches to the movable jaw mem-- ber 30 and which engages the side and top surfaces of the square shank II.

This clip or pincher member 40 is formed of resilient wire and has a somewhat U-shaped formation. The vertical side portions 4| have upper ends 42 which are bent circular so as to comfortably accommodate the fingers of the operator. The base 43 of the U-shaped formation is bent twice so as to tightly contact the top and two side surfaces of the shank II. The portion of the base 43 resting on the top surface of the shank II is indicated by the character 43a. and the two vertical sides thereof which contact the side surfaces of the shank II are indicated by the character 43b. Each of the sides 4| of the pincher member are bent outward and then inward slightly so as to form two laterally projecting aligned nodes or bosses 44 which engage and fit under the top fold 3|c of the metal piece 3|.

In the Figure 4 there is shown the alternate positions of the side portions 4|; that is, the positions they take when the ends 42 are squeezed. The character 4| indicates such alternate position. When the top ends of the side portions 4| are brought together, their lower ends tend to spread apart and flare or separate the vertical sides 43b. When this occurs, the tension or pincher grip is eased on the square shank and permits the two jaw members to be closed or opened, as desired, very easily.

It should be noted also that the metal piece 3| has a lateral slot 32 in its top fold 3|c for receiving the pincher or clip 40; and also, the inner fold 3|a. is provided or formed with a simple flange 36 which guides or positions the pincher clip 40 in the movable jaw member 30. The slot 32 is slightly shorter than the width of the clip 40. It is, however, long enough to permit the clip 40 to be inserted therein smoothly but is also short enough to normally engage the bosses 44 as is shown in the Figure 4.

One of the advantages of this device is that it permits a pot having a cover to be drained of a liquid without spilling its more solid contents. This is allowed by reason of the special formation of the rods 23 and 33 of the reciprocating jaw members. Instead of having the side pieces 25 and 35 thereof perpendicular to the ends or tips 24 and 34, they are spread and bent outwardly to form a more acute angle. Thus, as the horizontal ends 24 and 34 engage the under surface of the pot brim, the inwardly inclined side portions 25 and 35 engage or hold the lid downward and in close engagement with the brim. The lid being able to lift off just enough to permit a narrow opening to be formed through which a liquid may pass.

The instant device also has another distinct commercial advantage over similar devices of the prior art. This device is readily and easily assembled and disassembled by relatively inexperienced persons. The three main elements of the device may be compactly nested for economical packaging, shipping and carrying. By simply removing the nut 22, the fixed jaw member 20 may be removed from the shank II and then by manipulating the pincher clip 40, the movable jaw member 3|] can be removed therefrom and the three parts can then be fitted together in a relatively flat package.

It will now be clear that there is provided by this invention a hot pot lifter which accomplishes the objects originally set forth. While the invention has been illustrated and described in a specific form, it is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention as set forth is suggestive only and is not to be considered in a limiting sense, as there may be other forms or adaptations of the invention and as no limitations are intended herein other than those imposed thereon by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lifting device of the class described, comprising in combination, a support member having parallel side surfaces and front and rear ends, a first lateral bracket member rigidly attached to the front end of the said support member, a handle member on the rear end of the said support member, a second lateral bracket member slidably attached to the support member between the handle member and the first bracket member, jaw portions attached to the first and second bracket members, and a spring clamp device mounted on the second bracket member and engageable with the parallel side surfaces of the support member fixing the position thereof.

2. A lifting device of the class described in claim 1 and further characterized by having a second handle member on the said first jaw member. r

3. In a lifting device of the type having a longitudinal rod and a movable bracket mounted thereon, a clamp device mounted on the movable bracket and consisting of, a length of spring wire having a substantially U-shaped formation, a grip means intermediate the ends of the length of wire, engageable with the longitudinal rod, and a means on the ends of the lengtlrcf wire for operating the said grip means.

4. In a lifting device of the type having a longitudinal rod and a movable bracket mounted thereon, a clamp device mounted on the movable bracket and consisting of, a length of spring wire having a substantially U-shaped formation, opposing grip members engageable with the longitudinal rod and formed in the base of the U-shaped length of spring wire, and opposing operating members on the ends of the said U- shaped length of spring wire and actuating the said grip members.

5. In a lifting device of the type having a 1ongitudinal rod and a movable bracket mounted thereon, a clamp device mounted on the movable bracket and consisting of, a tension grip member having the form of an inverted U the depending sides of which engage the said longitudinal rod, and reciprocating operating members including finger grips attached to the sides of the tensioned grip member and extending above the said movable bracket.

JOHN RUTKOWSKI. 

